Telephone signal



Oct. 11, 1938. Q E J MODJESKI 2,132,488

TELEPHONE S IGNAL Filed Nov. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Oct.11,1938

PATIENT OFFICE TELEPHONE-SIGNAL Charles E. J. Modjeski, Philadelphia,Pa. Application November 14, 1933, Serial No. 697,906

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic means adapted to be associatedwith a telephone for indicating, for example, the time of return of' theparty being called to the one who is making a the call. r

In the usual use of the telephone, if the called party is absent the onewho'is doing the calling is unable to determine whether the one calledwill return in a few minutes or only after a considerable period. If thecaller desires to get in touch with theother part as soon as possible,this necessitates the annoying procedure of calling at relatively shortintervals to determine whether or not the party called has returned.

It is the object of the present invention to provide means forindicating the time of return of the called party in the absence of anyperson at the called station.

More specifically, it is the object of the invention to provide a devicewhich may be associated with the present types of telephones without anyobjectionable interference with other connections. The arrangement issuch that the telephone can be used in the conventional manner and theautomatic response device put into operation at will without making anybut the simplest adjustments by proper positioning of switches. a

Detailed objects of the invention relating to features of constructionand operation, and the scope of the invention in the matter ofsubstitution of equivalents for those specifically disclosed, will beapparent from the following description read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device asso-.

ciated with the usual upright telephone;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, of the same;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the interior of the mechanismillustrating in a general way the association of the mechanical parts;

Fig. 4 is an elevation partly in section showing certain of themechanical parts;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing details of control elements;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing other details;

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram illustrating the connecti'ons between variousparts of the apparatus; and Fig. 8 is a view showing graphically thetime relationships of operations of the various parts.

Inthe specific modification illustrated in this case, the mechanicalparts of the device are contained within a housing 2, which may beprovided with a hinged cover such as is indicated at 4, whereby accessmay be had to the enclosed mechanism. The cover 4 may provide a standfor a telephone 6 which is illustrated as of the 'usual upright typecontaining a transmitter I supported upon a suitable standard and an arm8 supporting the receiver I0, the weight of the receiver It beingadapted to hold the arm 8 in a lowered position interrupting thereceiver and transmitter circuit.

In order that the device may become effective, the receiver Ill must belifted so as to close the transmitter circuit. This is accomplished bymeans of a vertically slidable member [2 underlying the receiver Ill andengaged by the end of a lever l4, indicated in Fig. 4. The lever I4 isprovided with a cam follower end l6 arranged to engage the periphery ofa cam. 18 of the type illustrated in Fig. 4. The cam [8, along withother parts of the mechanism hereinafter described, is carried by asleeve 20 journalled upon a shaft 22 having its bearings in a suitablehousing which providessupport for the various mechanical elements aswell as various electrical contacts. To the sleeve 20 there is affixed a'wheel' 24 driven by a worm 26 mounted upon a shaft 28 which in turn isdriven from the shaft 34 by a worm 32, a wheel 30 providing a reductionarrangement. The shaft 34 is driven by a spring belt 36 from a motor 38.As a result of .the double reduction gearing involving the two wormdrives, the shaft 28 is rotated at a moderate speed Whereas the sleeve20 is rotated quite slowly. The ratio may be such that the shaft 28 maymake about twenty-five rotations to a single rotation of the sleeve 29.

The sleeve 20 carries a heart-shaped cam 40 at the rear end thereof.This heart-shaped cam is of conducting material. Immediately behind thecam 40 is a cam 42 of insulating material carried by the shaft 22. Thiscam 42 is adjustable by rotation of the shaft 22 through the medium of aknob 44 located at the front of the housing 2 and provided with apointer 46 cooperating With a dial 48 on which are inscribed hours fromone to twelve, as indicated in Fig. 1. The shaft 20 is fitted with agear wheel 50 having twelve teeth between which may engage aspring-pressed detent 52 which serves to locate the' shaft 2|] indefinite positions corresponding to the hours on the dial 48.

A conducting arm 54, insulated from the supporting means, is providedwith an enlarged following edge indicated at 56, extending so as to'beengageable by both the insulated cam 42 and the 1 conducting cam 46. Thepurpose of this arrangement will be made clear hereafter in thedescription of the operation.

Also mounted on the sleeve 20 is a cam 58 which may be of insulatingmaterial and whose shape is as indicated most clearly in the wiringdiagram of Fig. 7. This cam serves to engage the movable switch member68, closing the circuit indicated in Fig. 7 through approximatelyone-half a revolution of the sleeve 20.

Another cam 62, which may also be of insulating material, is carried bythe sleeve 20 and is adapted to engage and close a switch 64 after asuitable small interval of the operation of the shaft 29. The functionof this will also be brought out in the description of the operation.

A cam 66 carried by the shaft 28 is adapted to successively closeswitches 68 and 70, which are arranged as indicated in Figs. 6 and '7.The

time occurring between the closings of the two switches is preferably ofthe order of one-fourth of a rotation of the shaft 28, whereby pairs ofsignals are produced, as indicated hereafter.

Initiation of operation of the device is effected by means of theoperation of a relay coil 16 located across the bell-ringing lines ofthe telephone. A switch'iit located in series with the coil 18 isadapted to render operative or inoperative, as desired, the signallingmechanism. The relay coil 76 serves to attract an armature i8 arrangedto close a contact at at and thereby energize the motor 38 from thepower supply line indicated at P in Fig. 7. A switch 82 is in parallelwith the contact at 86 and is preferably of the form illustrated in Fig.4, comprising two elements which are pressed together by a cam 84carried by the arm it. In parallel with the motor 38 there is theprimary of a step-down transformer indicated at 72, which furnishes lowvoltage alternating current supply for the signalling parts of themechanism. These include among other elements, a buzzer, indicated at74, whose function will be hereafter described, and a bell, indicated atas, connected to the apparatus by a flexible cord 92 and provided withprongs or hooks 94 whereby it may be supported upon the mouthpiece ofthe transmitter. The bell 9B is preferably of the well-known singlestroke variety adapted to sound only once upon each energization of asolenoid contained therein. This is preferable to an arrangement inwhich an intermittent make and break is automatically effected and arapid succession of strokes produced upon continued external closure ofthe solenoid circuit.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the switch 86 is manually operable atthe front of the device. There is also provided at the front of thedevice a switch 88 whose position in the wiring diagram is indicated inFig. '7 as in series with the cam-actuated switch it.

No attempt has been made to indicate in the mechanical figures theelectrical connections, since these, together with the necessity forinsulation in suitable places, will be obvious upon inspection of thewiring diagram of Fig. '7, in which there is illustrated the electricalconnections of the various parts.

Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, and also to the remainingfigures showing the mechanical details, the operation of the device canbe made clear. Suppose, for example, that it is desired to indicate to acaller that the tele phone owner will be available at 6 p. m. Under suchcircumstances, the cam 42 would be rotated The terminals indicated at Pmust, of course, be

connected to the local power supply which, in the case of the circuitillustrated, would be alternating.

, Upon receipt of a call, the bell-ringing'circuit of the telephonewould be energized to sound the usual call bell in conventional fashion.The relay it connected across the bell-ringing circuit would thenattract the armature I8 during the period of flow of current in theringing circuit and would then release it. Upon closure at 18 and themotor circuit is energized. Accordingly, the shaft 28 and the sleeve 20are rotated. If, during this period, switches 58 and i0 close, nothingwill occur, due to the fact that the switch 8d remains open. As the cami8 revolves, lever l 4 is rocked, raising the member l2 and alsomoving'the cam 84 up towardsposition to engage the contacts 82. Theringing current may cease to flow before the switch 82 is closed. Undersuch conditions, the armature T8 is released and the motor stops. Theprogress of the motor is indicated by the upwardly sloping lines in Fig.8. The stopping of the motor is indicated by the interruption of theupwardly extending lines when the ringing current ceases. This actionmay be repeated for several rings. Eventually, however, the cam 84 willcause closure of the circuit at the contacts 82, which are shuntedacross the contact 88 and consequently, from then on, during theremainder of the cycle, the motor and transformer T2 willremain'energized. The progress of the motor at the time switch 82 isclosed is indicated in Fig. 8. 'The motor then continues to run and thebell may continue to ring until the lever M is rocked to such extentthat, by reason of the rise of the receiver N3, the bell ringing circuitis opened and the transmitter circuit closed. This position is indicatedin Fig. 8 at receiver raised. It will be noted that this occasions aninterruption of the ringing current. The motor will then continue torun, further raising lever M until it reaches'its maximum position,determined by the contour of the cam [8, which is such as to keep thereceiver in its maximum raised position. As the motor continues to run,the cam 48 will engage the contact lever 54, raising it off theinsulated cam 42. In spite of the contact here made, which is indicatedat 54' in Fig. 7, the bell 90 is not energized inasmuch as the switch6%! still remains open.

Before the high point of the cam 45 passes follower 54, the cam 62 willclose the switch 64 for a short period. By using the buzzer indicated atM, the circuit through the bell 90 will be repeatedly and rapidly madeand broken, giving rise to a series of closely spaced strokes serving asa signal to the caller to be ready to count the indicating strokes.Before the high point of the cam 4!) passes the follower 54, the switch64 is opened'so as not to interfere with the signal strokes.

As the high point of the cam 40 passes the follower 54, the switch 6!)is closed by the cam 58. The period of closure of this switch isindicated in Fig. 8 and is preferably approximately one-half the fulloperating cycle. After the switch 60 is closed, as the cam 66 rotates,it will successively close the switches 68 and 19. The closure of theswitch 10 follows themomentary closure of the switch 68 by aboutone-fourth of the revolution of the shaft :28, whereas the next closureof the switch 68 occurs only after approximately another three-fourthsof a revolution. As a result, upon each revolution of the shaft 28, adouble signal is heard, as indicated in Fig. 8. This double signalis,ofcourse, due to the fact that the switch 88 hasbeen thrown'to the p; m.position; If a designation of an a. m. time is desired, thenthe" switch88 is opened and only a single stroke of the bell occurs upon eachrevolution.

As the rotation of the cam 40 proceeds, the lever 54 is lowered until itengages the cam 42, whose height in the path of the lever waspreliminarily adjusted. When the drop of the lever 54 is interrupted bythe insulated cam, contact between 40 and this lever is broken, andconsequently the bell circuit is open. The number of strokes of the bellwill accordingly dependupon the period between the closure of the switch60 and the contact of the lever 54 with the insulated cam 42. In thepresent instance, having set the cam 42 to the position 6, there will besix double strokes of the bell occurring if a"p. m. hour is to bedesignated, or six single strokesif an a. m. hour is to be designated.After the interruption of the signal strokes, the motor continues todrive the sleeve until eventually the follower end l6 of the lever l4drops off the face of cam l8, thus lowering the receiver and opening theswitch 82. All of the parts are then in their initial position 'readyfor operation as soon as another call is received.

The cams 40 and 42' are, of course, designed so that when the lowestportion of 42 is below the follower lever 54, twelve single or doublestrokes of the bell may occur. Possibility of this is indicated in Fig.8.

It will be observed that the invention in the embodiment illustrateddoes not in any way interfere with the normal telephone arrangementexcept by the connection to the bell ringing circuit. This may beeffected in any convenient fashion and is, of course, a very simpleconnection. To avoid complication, it is desirable that the signal bemade in an audible fashion so as to bepicked up by the transmitter. Itis, however, possible to connect suitable signalling means into thetelephone circuitso that the party calling may determine the hour ofreturn by, for example, counting a series of clicks resulting from themake and break of the telephone circuit.

The preliminary warning signal 'may be dispensed with or otherpreliminary signalling means employed, such means, for example, beingmechanical instead of the electrical arrangement illustrated at 14. Thebell, of course, need not be of the single stroke variety, but may bereplaced by a buzzer or bell giving a series of sounds of any desiredfrequency.

In the application of the invention to the hand type of telephone, theequivalent of the lever [4 will, of course, be used to raise the switchplunger upon which the combined transmitter and receiver rests. In suchapplication of the invention, the bell is preferably contained withinthe supporting housing such as 2, there being provided a suitablegrill-covered opening in such housing below the normal position of thetransmitter end of the telephone and above the bell or other signallingdevice.

The fact that the ringing circuit is not interfered with is ofimportance since, if the apparatus is set while the called party ispresent, he

will be notified of'the incoming call by the usual ringing of the-belland may answer in the conventional fashion even though the apparatus maybe set in operation. The fact of its operation will, of course, serve asa notification to open the switch 86 if he intends to remain withinreach of the telephone.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the embodiment'ofthe invention without departing from the spirit thereof as defined inthe following claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A telephone answering device comprisin means for producing apredetermined succession of signals, and means actuated by an incomingcall for putting said telephone in condition to transmit said signalsand for initiating operation of the first means, said signal producingmeans, including means for periodically opening and closing a circuitduring a cycle of operation to produce signals, and means for adjustingthe length of the portion of the cycle during which the circuit isoperative. V

2. A telephone answering device comprising means for producing apredetermined succession of signals, and means actuated by an incomingcall for putting said telephone in conditionv to transmit said signalsand for initiating opera-. tion of the first means, said signalproducing means including means for periodically opening and closing acircuit during a cycle of operation to produce signals, means formodifying the character of the opening and closing of the circuitcharacterizing each signal, and means for adjusting the length of theportion of the cycle during which the circuit is operative.

3. A telephone answering'device for use in conjunction with a telephonecomprising means for producing successive signals indicating hours,means for adjusting the number of such signals produced in a singleoperation, adjustable means for indicating during each operation whetherthe hour indicated is a. m. or p. m., and means actuated by an incomingcall for putting said telephone in condition to transmit said signalsand for initiating operation of the first means.

4. A telephone answering device for use in conjunction with a telephonelifting of the receiver of which places it in transmitting condition,comprising means for producing audible successive signals in thevicinity of the telephone, means movable in conjunction with anindicator for adjusting the number of such signals produced in a singleoperation, and means actuated by an incoming call for lifting thereceiver and for initiating operation of the first means.

5. A telephone answering device comprising means for producingsuccessive signals, means for adjusting the number of said signals toindicate an hour and for modifying the character of each of such signalsto indicate whether the hour is a. m. or p. m., and means actuated by anincoming call for putting said telephone in having a a tromechanicalsound producing means, means for intermittently controlling the circuitof said sound producing means to produce successive sound signals in theair in the vicinity of said transmitter, means for adjusting the numberof such signals produced in a single operation, and means actuated by anincoming call to said telephone for connecting said transmitter to theline to put it in condition to receive and transmit said sound signalsand for initiating operation of the sound producing means.

7. In combination with a telephone having a transmitter normallydisconnected from its line so as not to be in condition to transmitsound signals and an associated call bell in a bell ringing circuit, ananswering device comprising an electromechanical sound producing means,means for intermittently controlling the circuit of said sound producingmeans to produce successive sound signals in the air in the vicinity ofsaid transmitter, means for adjusting the number of such signalsproduced in a single operation, and means actuated by energization ofsaid bell ringing circuit for connecting said transmitter to the line toput it in condition to receive and transmit said sound signals and forinitiating operation of the sound producing means, saidlast named meansbeing arranged so as not to interfere with the ringing of the call belluntil the telephone is put in condition to transmit said signals.

CHARLES E. J. MODJESKI.

